QUAKER  CONSCIENCE 

Cyrus  Prin^ie's  D'mrj 


txhvavy  of  t:he  theological  ^mimvy 

PRINCETON  .  NEW  JERSEY 

FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
ROBERT  ELLIOTT  SPEER 

BX  7748   .W2  P74  1918 
Pringle,  Cyrus  G.  1838-1911 
The  record  of  a  Quaker 
conscience:  Cyrus  Pringle*! 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/recordofquakercoOOprin_0 


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( 

THE  RECORD  OF  A 
QUAKER  CONSCIENCE  t 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

HEW  YORK  •  BOSTON  •  CHICAGO  •  DALLAS 
ATLANTA  •  SAN  FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON  •  BOMBAY  •  CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 


THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA.  Ltxk 

TORONTO 


THE  RECORD  OF  A 
QUAKER  COXSCIEXCE 


CYRUS  PRINGLE'S  DIARY 


OF  PPr^- 


w:th  ak  :ntk.oduct:ok 
RUFUS  M.  TONEJ 


THE  MACMILLAX  COMPANY 
1918 


i.Q  TighXi  ri.ii--iii 


Copyright,  1913 
By  The  Atlantic  Monthly  Company 
Copyright,  1918 
By  the  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

Set  up  and  printed.    Published,  February,  1918 


INTRODUCTION 


The  body  of  this  little  book  consists  of 
the  personal  diary  of  a  young  Quaker  named 
Cyrus  Guernsey  Pringle  of  Charlotte,  Ver- 
mont. He  was  drafted  for  service  in  the 
Union  Army,  July  13th,  1863.  Under  the 
existing  draft  law  a  person  who  had  reli- 
gious scruples  against  engaging  in  war  was 
given  the  privilege  of  paying  a  commutation 
fine  of  three  hundred  dollars.  This  commu- 
tation money  Pringle's  conscience  would  not 
allow  him  to  pay.  A  prosperous  uncle  pro- 
posed to  pay  it  surreptitiously  for  him,  but 
the  honest-minded  youth  discovered  the  plan 
and  refused  to  accept  the  well  meant  kind- 
ness, since  he  believed,  no  doubt  rightly,  that 
this  money  would  be  used  to  pay  for  an  army 
...^   5 


6  Introduction 

substitute  in  his  place.  The  Diary  relates  in 
simple,  naive  style  the  experiences  which  be- 
fell the  narrator  as  he  followed  his  hard 
path  of  duty,  and  incidentally  it  reveals  a 
fine  and  sensitive  type  of  character,  not  un- 
like that  which  comes  so  beautifully  to  light 
in  the  Journal  of  John  Woolman. 

This  is  plainly  not  the  psychological  mo- 
ment to  study  the  highly  complex  and  deli- 
cate problem  of  conscience.  The  strain  and 
tension  of  world  issues  disturb  our  judgment. 
We  cannot  if  we  would  turn  away  from  the 
events  and  movements  that  affect  the  destiny 
of  nations  to  dwell  calmly  and  securely  upon 
our  own  inner,  private  actions.  It  is  never 
easy,  even  when  the  world  is  most  normal 
and  peaceful,  to  mark  off  with  sharp  lines 
the  area  of  individual  freedom.  No  person 
ever  lives  unto  himself  or  is  sufficient  to  him- 
self. He  is  inextricably  woven  into  the  tis- 
sue of  the  social  group.    His  privileges,  his 


Introduction  7 

responsibilities,  his  obligations  are  forever 
over-individual  and  come  from  beyond  his 
narrow  isolated  life.  If  he  is  to  be  a  ra- 
tional being  at  all  he  must  relate  his  life  to 
others  and  share  in  some  measure  their  tri- 
umphs and  their  tragedies. 

But  at  the  same  time  the  most  precious 
thing  in  the  universe  is  that  mysterious  thing 
we  call  individual  liberty  and  which  even 
God  himself  guards  and  respects.  Up  to 
some  point,  difficult  certainly  to  delimit,  a 
man  must  be  captain  of  his  soul.  He  can- 
not be  a  person  if  he  does  not  have  a  sphere 
of  power  over  his  own  act.  To  treat  him  as 
a  puppet  of  external  forces,  or  a  mere  cog  in 
a  vast  social  mechanism,  is  to  wipe  out  the 
unique  distinction  between  person  and  thing. 
Somewhere  the  free  spirit  must  take  its  stand 
and  claim  its  God-given  distinction.  If  life 
is  to  be  at  all  worth  while  there  must  be  some 
boundary  within  which  the  soul  holds  its  own 


8  Introduction 

august  and  ultimate  tribunal.  That  Sanctu- 
ary domain  within  the  soul  the  Quakers, 
ever  since  their  origin  in  the  period  of 
the  English  Commonwealth,  have  always 
guarded  as  the  most  sacred  possession  a  man 
can  have. 

No  grave  difficulty,  at  least  in  the  modern 
world,  is  involved  in  this  faith,  until  it  sud- 
denly comes  into  conflict  with  the  urgent  re- 
quirements of  social  efficiency.  When  the 
social  group  is  fused  with  emotion  and 
moves  almost  as  an  undivided  unit  toward 
some  end,  then  the  claim  of  a  right,  on  the 
ground  of  conscience,  for  the  individual  to 
deviate  from  the  group  and  to  pursue  an- 
other or  an  opposite  course  appears  serious 
if  not  positively  insufferable.  The  abstract 
principle  of  individual  liberty  all  modern  per- 
sons grant;  the  strain  comes  when  some  one 
proposes  to  insist  upon  a  concrete  instance 
of  it  which  involves  implications  that  may 


Introduction  9 

endanger  the  ends  which  the  intensified 
group  is  pursuing.  A  situation  of  this  type 
confronts  the  Quakers  whenever  their  coun- 
try engages  in  war,  since  as  a  people  they 
feel  that  they  cannot  fight  or  take  any  part 
in  military  operations. 

They  do  not  find  it  an  easy  thing  to  give 
a  completely  rational  ground  for  their  oppo- 
sition to  war.  Xor,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  is 
it  any  more  easy  for  the  militarist  to  ration- 
alize his  method  of  solving  world  difficulties. 
Both  are  evidently  actuated  by  instinctive 
forces  which  lie  far  beneath  the  level  of  pure 
reason. 

The  roots  of  the  Quakers'  opposition  to 
war  go  deep  down  into  the  soil  of  the  past. 
They  are  the  outgrowth  and  culmination  of 
a  long  spiritual  movement.  They  carry 
along,  in  their  ideas,  emotions,  habits  and 
attitudes,  tendencies  which  have  been  uncon- 
sciously sucked  in  with  their  mother's  milk, 


lo  Introduction 

and  which,  therefore,  cannot  be  held  up  and 
analysed.  The  mystics,  the  humanists,  the 
anabaptists,  the  spiritual  reformers,  are 
forerunners  of  the  Quaker.  They  are  a 
necessary  part  of  his  pedigree, —  and  they 
were  all  profoundly  opposed  to  war.  This 
attitude  has  become  an  integral  part  of  the 
vital  stock  of  truth  by  which  the  Quaker  lives 
his  spiritual  life,  and  to  violate  it  is  for  him 
to  stop  living  the  way  of  truth,"  as  the 
early  Quakers  quaintly  called  their  religious 
faith. 

But  the  Quakers  have  never  been  cham- 
pions of  the  negative.  They  do  not  take 
kindly  to  the  role  of  being  "  antis."  Their 
negations  grow  out  of  their  insistent  affirma- 
tions. If  they  are  against  an  established  in- 
stitution or  custom  it  is  because  they  are  for 
some  other  way  of  life  which  seems  to  them 
divinely  right,  and  their  first  obligation  is  to 
incarnate  that  way  of  life.    They  cannot, 


Introduction  1 1 

therefore,  stand  apart  in  monastic  seclusion 
and  safely  watch  the  swirl  of  forces  which 
they  silently  disapprove.  If  in  war-time 
they  do  not  fight,  they  do  something  else. 
They  accept  and  face  the  dangers  incident  to 
their  way  of  life.  They  feel  a  compulsion 
to  take  up  and  in  some  measure  to  bear  the 
burden  of  the  world's  suffering.  They  en- 
deavour to  exhibit,  humbly  and  modestly,  the 
power  of  sacrificial  love,,  freely,  joyously 
given,  and  they  venture  all  that  the  brave  can 
venture  to  carry  their  faith  into  life  and  ac- 
tion. In  the  American  civil  war,  in  the 
Franco-Prussian,  the  South  African,  the  Bal- 
kan, the  Russo-Japanese,  small  bands  of 
Quakers  revealed  the  same  spirit  of  service 
and  the  same  obliviousness  to  danger  which 
have  marked  the  larger  groups  that  have 
manned  the  ambulance  units  and  the  war- 
victims'  relief  and  reconstruction  work  of 
this  world  war.    In  this  present  crisis  they 


12  Introduction 

have  gone  wherever  they  could  go, —  to  Bel- 
gium, to  France,  to  Russia,  to  Italy,  to  Serbia 
and  Greece  and  Syria  and  Mesopotamia, — 
to  carry  into  operation  the  forces  of  restora- 
tion and  of  reconstruction.  They  have  not 
stood  aloof  as  spectators  of  the  world's  trag- 
edy. They  have  entered  into  it  and  shared 
it,  and  they  have  counted  neither  money  nor 
life  dear  to  themselves  in  their  desire  to 
reveal  the  power  of  redeeming  and  trans- 
forming love. 

Slowly  the  sincerity  of  the  Quaker  convic- 
tion about  war  has  made  itself  felt  and  lim- 
ited legislative  provisions  have  been  made, 
especially  in  England  and  America,  to  meet 
the  claims  of  conscience.  The  problem 
which  confronts  the  law-maker,  even  when 
he  is  sympathetic  with  the  rights  of  convic- 
tion, is  the  grave  difficulty  of  determining 
where  to  draw  the  line  of  special  exception 
to  general  requirements  and  how  to  discover 


Introduction  13 

the  sincerity  of  conscientious  objection  to 
war.  The  "  slacker  "  is  always  a  stern  pos- 
sibility. There  must  be  no  holes  in  the  net 
for  him  to  escape  through.  The  makers  of 
armies  naturally  want  every  man  who  can  be 
spared  from  civilian  life  and  can  be  utilized 
for  military  operations.  It  has  consequently 
often  seemed  necessary  for  law-makers  to  be 
narrow  and  hard  toward  the  obviously  sin- 
cere for  fear  of  being  too  easy  and  lenient 
with  those  suspected  of  having  sham  con- 
sciences. 

During  the  Civil  War  in  America,  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  eager  as  he  was  to  win  the  war, 
was  always  deeply  in  sympathy  with  the 
Quakers,  and  he  stretched  his  administrative 
powers  to  their  full  limit  to  provide  relief 
for  conscientious  convictions.  In  the  early 
stages  of  the  great  conflict  the  President 
wrote  the  following  kindly  note  in  answer  to 
a  message  from  New  England  Yearly  Meet- 


14  Introduction 

ing  of  the  Society  of  Friends:  "Engaged 
as  I  am,  in  a  great  war,  I  fear  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult for  the  world  to  understand  how  fully 
I  appreciate  the  principles  of  peace  incul- 
cated in  this  letter  [of  yours]  and  every 
where  by  the  Society  of  Friends."  ^  Both 
he  and  Secretary  Stanton  made  many  positive 
efforts  to  find  some  way  of  providing  for  the 
tender  consciences  of  Friends  without  being 
unfair  to  the  rights  of  others.  They  even 
requested  American  Friends  to  call  a  confer- 
ence to  consider  how  to  find  a  satisfactory 
solution  of  the  problem.  Such  a  conference 
was  held  in  Baltimore,  December  7th,  1863, 
and  the  Friends  there  assembled  expressed 
great  appreciation  of  "  the  kindness  evinced 
at  all  times  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of 
War."  A  delegation  from  this  conference 
visited  Washington  and,  in  co-operation  with 

^  Nicolay  and  Hay:  "Abraham  Lincoln,"  Vol.  VI,  p. 
328. 


Introduction  1 5 

Secretary  Stanton,  succeeded  in  securing  a 
clause  in  the  enrolment  bill,  declaring 
Friends  to  be  non-combatants,  assigning  all 
drafted  Friends  to  hospital  service  or  work 
among  freedmen,  and  further  providing  for 
the  entire  exemption  of  Friends  from  mili- 
tary service  on  the  payment  of  $300  into  a 
fund  for  the  relief  of  sick  and  wounded.^ 

On  several  occasions  Friends  in  larger  or 
smaller  groups  went  to  Washington  for 
times  of  prayer  and  spiritual  communion 
with  the  great  President.  These  times  were 
deeply  appreciated  by  the  heavily  burdened 
man.  Tears  ran  down  his  cheeks,  we  are 
told,  as  he  sat  bowed  in  solemn  silence  or 
knelt  as  some  moved  Friend  prayed  for  him 
to  Almighty  God.  Writing  of  the  visit  of 
Isaac  and  Sarah  Harvey  of  Clinton  County, 

2  Secretary  Stanton  endeavoured  to  provide  that  this 
commutation  money  should  be  made  into  a  fund  for  the 
care  of  freedmen.  This  suggestion  was,  however,  not 
adopted  by  Congress. 


i6 


Introduction 


Ohio,  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  Lincoln  ten- 
derly said:  "  May  the  Lord  comfort  them 
as  they  have  sustained  me/'  A  letter  writ- 
ten by  the  President  in  1862  to  Eliza  P. 
Gurney,  one  of  a  small  group  of  Friends  who 
visited  him  and  prayed  with  him  in  the  au- 
tumn of  that  year,  reveals  forcibly  how  he 
regarded  these  occasions : 

"  I  am  glad  of  this  interview,  and  glad  to'  know 
that  I  have  your  sympathy  and  prayers.  We  arc 
indeed  going  through  a  great  trial  —  a  fiery  trial. 
In  the  very  responsible  position  in  which  I  happen 
to  be  placed,  being  a  humble  instrument  in  the  hands 
of  our  Heavenly  Father,  as- 1  am,  and  as  we  all  are, 
to  work  out  his  great  purposes,  I  have  desired  that 
all  my  works  and  acts  may  be  according  to  his  will, 
and  that  it  might  be  so,  I  have  sought  his  aid;  but 
if,  after  endeavouring  to  do  my  best  in  the  light 
which  he  affords  me,  I  find  my  efforts  fail,  I  must 
believe  that  for  some  purpose  unknown  to  me,  his 
will  is  otherwise.  If  I  had  had  my  way,  this  war 
would  never  have  been  commenced.  If  I  had  been 
allowed  my  way,  this  war  would  have  been  ended 
before  this;  but  we  find  it  still  continues,  and  we 
must  believe  that  he  permits  it  for  some  wise  pur- 


Introduction  ly 

pose  of  his  own,  mysterious  and  unknown  to  us; 
and  though  with  our  limited  understandings  we  may 
not  be  able  to  comprehend  it,  yet  we  cannot  but  be- 
lieve that  he  w^ho  made  the  world  still  governs  it." 

Somewhat  later  President  Lincoln  wrote 
again  to  Eliza  P.  Gurney  requesting  her  to 
exercise  her  freedom  to  write  to  him  as  he 
felt  the  need  of  spiritual  help  and  rein- 
forcement. Her  letter  of  reply  so  closely 
touched  him  and  spoke  to  his  condition  that 
he  carried  it  about  with  him  and  it  was  found 
in  his  coat  pocket  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
twenty  months  after  it  was  written.  In  the 
autumn  of  1864,  President  Lincoln,  still  im- 
pressed by  the  message  which  he  had  re- 
ceived, wrote  a  memorable  letter  to  Eliza  P. 
Gurney.    It  was  as  follows: 

"  I  have  not  forgotten  —  probably  never  shall  for- 
get —  the  very  impressive  occasion  when  yourself 
and  friends  visited  me  on  a  Sabbath  forenoon  two 
years  ago.  Nor  has  your  kind  letter,  written  nearly 
a  year  later,  ever  been  forgotten.    In  all  it  has 


THE  RECORD  OF  A  QUAKER 
CONSCIENCE 


THE  RECORD  OF  A  QUAKER 
CONSCIENCE 

At  Burlington,  Vt.,  on  the  13th  of  the 
seventh  month,  1863,  I  was  drafted.  Pleas- 
ant are  my  recollections  of  the  14th.  Much 
of  that  rainy  day  I  spent  in  my  chamber,  as 
yet  unaware  of  my  fatej  in  writing  and 
reading  and  in  reflecting  to  compose  my  mind 
for  any  event.  The  day  and  the  exercise,  by 
the  blessing  of  the  Father,  brought  me  pre- 
cious reconciliation  to  the  will  of  Providence. 

With  ardent  zeal  for  our  Faith  and  the 
cause  of  our  peaceable  principles;  and  almost 
disgusted  at  the  lukewarmness  and  unfaith- 
fulness of  very  many  who  profess  these;  and 
considering  how  heavily  slight  crosses  bore 
upon  their  shoulders,  I  felt  to  say,  Here  am 
23 


THE  RECORD  OF  A  QUAKER 
CONSCIENCE 

At  Burlington,  Vt.,  on  the  13th  of  the 
seventh  month,  1863,  I  was  drafted.  Pleas- 
ant are  my  recollections  of  the  14th.  Much 
of  that  rainy  day  I  spent  in  my  chamber,  as 
yet  unaware  of  my  fate;  in  writing  and 
reading  and  in  reflecting  to  compose  my  mind 
for  any  event.  The  day  and  the  exercise,  by 
the  blessing  of  the  Father,  brought  me  pre- 
cious reconciliation  to  the  will  of  Providence. 

With  ardent  zeal  for  our  Faith  and  the 
cause  of  our  peaceable  principles;  and  almost 
disgusted  at  the  lukewarmness  and  unfaith- 
fulness of  very  many  who  profess  these;  and 
considering  how  heavily  slight  crosses  bore 
upon  their  shoulders,  I  felt  to  say,  "  Here  am 
23 


24    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

I,  Father,  for  thy  service.  As  thou  will." 
May  I  trust  it  was  He  who  called  me  and 
sent  me  forth  with  the  consolation:  "  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee."  Deeply  have  I 
felt  many  times  since  that  I  am  nothing  with- 
out the  companionship  of  the  Spirit. 

I  was  to  report  on  the  27th.  Then,  loyal 
to  our  country,  Wm.  Lindley  Dean  and  I  ap- 
peared before  the  Provost  Marshal  with  a 
statement  of  our  cases.  We  were  ordered 
for  a  hearing  on  the  29th.  On  the  afternoon 
of  that  day  W.  L.  D.  was  rejected  upon  exam- 
ination of  the  Surgeon,  but  my  case  not  com- 
ing up,  he  remained  with  me, —  much  to  my 
strength  and  comfort.  Sweet  was  his  con- 
verse and  long  to  be  remembered,  as  we  lay 
together  that  warm  summer  night  on  the 
straw  of  the  barracks.  By  his  encourage- 
ment much  was  my  mind  strengthened;  my 
desires  for  a  pure  life,  and  my  resolutions  for 
good.    In  him  and  those  of  whom  he  spoke  I 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  25 

saw  the  abstract  beauty  of  Quakerism.  On 
the  next  morning  came  Joshua  M.  Dean  to 
support  me  and  plead  my  case  before  the 
Board  of  Enrollment.  On  the  day  after,  the 
31st,  I  came  before  the  Board.  Respectfully 
those  men  listened  to  the  exposition  of  our 
principles;  and,  on  our  representing  that  we 
looked  for  some  relief  from  the  President, 
the  marshal  released  me  for  twenty  days. 
Meanwhile  appeared  Lindley  M.  Macomber 
and  was  likewise,  by  the  kindness  of  the 
marshal,  though  they  had  received  instruc- 
tions from  the  Provost  Marshal  General  to 
show  such  claims  no  partiality,  released  to 
appear  on  the  20th  day  of  the  eighth  month. 

All  these  days  we  were  urged  by  our  ac- 
quaintances to  pay  our  commutation  money; 
by  some  through  well-meant  kindness  and 
sympathy;  by  others  through  interest  in  the 
war;  and  by  others  still  through  a  belief  they 
entertained  it  was  our  duty.    But  we  confess 


26    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

a  higher  duty  than  that  to  country;  and,  ask- 
ing no  military  protection  of  our  Govern- 
ment and  grateful  for  none,  deny  any  obliga- 
tion to  support  so  unlawful  a  system,  as  we 
hold  a  war  to  be  even  when  waged  in  oppo- 
sition to  an  evil  and  oppressive  power  and 
ostensibly  in  defence  of  liberty,  virtue,  and 
free  institutions;  and,  though  touched  by  the 
kind  interest  of  friends,  we  could  not.  relieve 
their  distress  by  a  means  we  held  even  more 
sinful  than  that  of  serving  ourselves,  as  by 
supplying  money  to  hire  a  substitute  we  would 
not  only  be  responsible  for  the  result,  but  be 
the  agents  in  bringing  others  into  evil.  So 
looking  to  our  Father  alone  for  help,  and 
remembering  that  "  Whoso  loseth  his  life  for 
my  sake  shall  find  it;  but  whoso  saveth  it  shall 
lose  it,"  we  presented  ourselves  again  before 
the  Board,  as  we  had  promised  to  do  when 
released.  Being  offered  four  days  more  of 
time,  we  accepted  it  as  affording  opportunity 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  27 

to  visit  our  friends;  and  moreover  as  there 
would  be  more  probability  of  meeting  Peter 
Dakin  at  Rutland. 

Sweet  was  the  comfort  and  s>Tnpathy  of 
our  friends  as  we  visited  them.  There  was 
a  deep  comfort,  as  we  left  them,  in  the 
thought  that  so  many  pure  and  pious  people 
follow  us  with  their  love  and  prayers.  Ap- 
pearing finally  before  the  marshal  on  the 
24th,  suits  and  uniforms  were  selected  for  us, 
and  we  were  called  upon  to  give  receipts  for 
them.  L.  M.  M.  was  on  his  guard,  and, 
being  first  called  upon,  declared  he  could  not 
do  so,  as  that  would  imply  acceptance.  Fail- 
ing to  come  to  any  agreement,  the  matter  was 
postponed  till  next  morning,  when  we  certi- 
fied to  the  fact  that  the  articles  were  "  with 
us."  Here  I  must  make  record  of  the  kind- 
ness of  the  marshal,  Rolla  Gleason,  who 
treated  us  with  respect  and  kindness.  He 
had  spoken  with  respect  of  our  Society;  had 


2  8    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

given  me  furloughs  to  the  amount  of  twenty- 
four  days,  when  the  marshal  at  Rutland  con- 
sidered himself  restricted  by  his  oath  and 
duty  to  six  days;  and  here  appeared  in  person 
to  prevent  any  harsh  treatment  of  us  by  his 
sergeants;  and  though  much  against  his  in- 
clinations, assisted  in  putting  on  the  uniform 
with  his  own  hands.  We  bade  him  farewell 
with  grateful  feelings  and  expressions  of  fear 
that  we  should  not  fall  into  as  tender  hands 
again;  and  amid  the  rain  in  the  early  morn- 
ing, as  the  town  clock  tolled  the  hour  of 
seven,  we  were  driven  amongst  the  flock  that 
was  going  forth  to  the  slaughter,  down  the 
street  and  into  the  cars  for  Brattleboro. 
Dark  was  the  day  with  murk  and  cloud  and 
rain;  and,  as  we  rolled  down  through  the 
narrow  vales  of  eastern  Vermont,  somewhat 
of  the  shadow  crept  into  our  hearts  and  filled 
them  with  dark  apprehensions  of  evil  fortune 
ahead;  of  long,  hopeless  trials;  of  abuse  from 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  29 

inferior  officers;  of  contempt  from  common 
soldiers;  of  patient  endurance  (or  an  at- 
tempt at  this),  unto  an  end  seen  only  by  the 
eye  of  a  strong  faith. 

Herded  into  a  car  by  ourselves,  we  con- 
scripts, substitutes,  and  the  rest,  through  the 
greater  part  of  the  day,  swept  over  the  fer- 
tile meadows  along  the  banks  of  the  White 
River  and  the  Connecticut,  through  pleasant 
scenes  that  had  little  of  delight  for  us.  At 
Woodstock  we  were  joined  by  the  conscripts 
from  the  ist  District, —  altogether  an  in- 
ferior company  from  those  before  with  us, 
who  were  honest  yeomen  from  the  northern 
and  mountainous  towns,  while  these  were 
many  of  them  substitutes  from  the  cities. 

At  Brattleboro  we  were  marched  up  to  the 
camp;  our  knapsacks  and  persons  searched; 
and  any  articles  of  citizen's  dress  taken  from 
us;  and  then  shut  up  in  a  rough  board  build- 
ing under  a  guard.    Here  the  prospect  was 


30    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

dreary,  and  I  felt  some  lack  of  confidence  in 
our  Father's  arm,  though  but  two  days  be- 
fore I  wrote  to  my  dear  friend,  E.  M.  H., — 

I  go  tomorrow  where  the  din 

Of  war  is  in  the  sulphurous  air.  ^ 

I  go  the  Prince  of  Peace  to  serve, 

His  cross  of  suffering  to  bear. 

Brattleboro,  26th,  Sth  month,  1863. — 
Twenty-five  or  thirty  caged  lions  roam  lazily 
to  and  fro  through  this  building  hour  after 
hour  through  the  day.  On  every  side  with- 
out, sentries  pace  their  slow  beat,  bearing 
loaded  muskets.  Men  are  ranging  through 
the  grounds  or  hanging  in  synods  about  the 
doors  of  the  different  buildings,  apparently 
without  a  purpose.  Aimless  is  military  life, 
except  betimes  its  aim  is  deadly.  Idle  life 
blends  with  violent  death-struggles  till  the 
man  is  unmade  a  man;  and  henceforth  there 
is  little  of  manhood  about  him.  Of  a  man 
he  is  made  a  soldier,  which  is  a  man-destroy- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  31 

ing  machine  in  two  senses, —  a  thing  for  the 
prosecuting  or  repelling  an  invasion  like  the 
block  of  stone  in  the  fortress  or  the  plate  of 
iron  on  the  side  of  the  Monitor.  They  are 
alike.  I  have  tried  in  vain  to  define  a  differ- 
ence, .  and  I  see  only  this.  The  iron-clad 
with  its  gun  is  the  bigger  soldier:  the  more 
formidable  in  attack,  the  less  liable  to  de- 
struction in  a  given  time;  the  block  the  most 
capable  of  resistance;  both  are  equally  obedi- 
ent to  officers.  Or  the  more  perfect  is  the 
soldier,  the  more  nearly  he  approaches  these 
in  this  respect. 

Three  times  a  day  we  are  marched  out  to 
the  mess  houses  for  our  rations.  In  our 
hands  we  carry  a  tin  plate,  whereon  we  bring 
back  a  piece  of  bread  (sour  and  tough  most 
likely),  and  a  cup.  Morning  and  noon  a 
piece  of  meat,  antique  betimes,  bears  com- 
pany with  the  bread.  They  who  wish  it  re- 
ceive in  their  cups  two  sohs  of  decoctions: 


32    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

in  the  morning  burnt  bread,  or  peas  perhaps, 
steeped  in  water  with  some  saccharine  sub- 
stance added  (I  dare  not  affirm  it  to  be 
sugar).  At  night  steeped  tea  extended  by 
some  other  herbs  probably  and  its  pungency 
and  acridity  assuaged  by  the  saccharine  prin- 
ciple aforementioned.  On  this  we  have  so 
far  subsisted  and,  save  some  nauseating, 
comfortably.  As  we  go  out  and  return,  on 
right  and  left  and  in  front  and  rear  go  bayo- 
nets. Some  substitutes  heretofore  have  es- 
caped and  we  are  not  to  be  neglected  in  our 
attendants.  Hard  beds  are  healthy,  but  I 
query  cannot  the  result  be  defeated  by  the 
degree?  Our  mattresses  are  boards.  Only 
the  slight  elasticity  of  our  thin  blankets 
breaks  the  fall  of  our  flesh  and  bones  thereon. 
Oh!  now  I  praise  the  discipline  I  have  re- 
ceived from  uncarpeted  floors  through  warm 
summer  nights  of  my  boyhood. 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  33 

The  building  resounds  with  petty  talk; 
jokes  and  laughter  and  swearing.  Some- 
thing more  than  that.  Many  of  the  caged 
lions  are  engaged  with  cards,  and  money 
changes  hands  freely.  Some  of  the  caged 
lions  read,  and  some  sleep,  and  so  the  weary 
day  goes  by. 

L.  M.  M.  and  I  addressed  the  following 
letter  to  Governor  Holbrook  and  hired  a 
corporal  to  fon\'ard  it  to.  him. 

Belattleboro,  Vt.,  26th,  Sth  month,  1863. 
Frederick  Holbrook, 

Governor  of  Vermont:  — 
We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  beg  leave  to  represent  to 
thee,  that  we  were  lately  drafted  in  the  3d 
Dist.  of  Vermont,  have  been  forced  into  the 
army  and  reached  the  camp  near  this  town 
yesterday. 


34    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

That  in  the  language  of  the  elders  of  our 
New  York  Yearly  Meeting,  "  We  love  our 
country  and  acknowledge  with  gratitude  to 
our  Heavenly  Father  the  many  blessings  we 
have  been  favoured  with  under  the  govern- 
ment ;  and  can  feel  no  sympathy  with  any  who 
seek  its  overthrow." 

But  that,  true  to  well-known  principles  of 
our  Society,  we  cannot  violate  our  religious 
convictions  either  by  complying  with  military 
requisitions  or  by  the  equivalents  of  this  com- 
pliance,—  the  furnishing  of  a  substitute  or 
payment  of  commutation  money.  That, 
therefore,  we  are  brought  into  suffering  and 
exposed  to  insult  and  contempt  from  those 
who  have  us  in  charge,  as  well  as  to  the  penal- 
ties of  insubordination,  though  liberty  of  con- 
science is  granted  us  by  the  Constitution  of 
Vermont  as  well  as  that  of  the  United  States. 

Therefore,  we  beg  of  thee  as  Governor  of 
our  State  any  assistance  thou  may  be  able  to 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  35 

render,  should  it  be  no  more  than  the  influ- 
ence of  thy  position  interceding  in  our  behalf. 

Truly  Thy  Friend, 
Cyrus  G.  Pringle. 

P.S. —  We  are  informed  we  are  to  be  sent 
to  the  vicinity  of  Boston  tomorrow. 

2']th. —  On  board  train  to  Boston.  The 
long  afternoon  of  yesterday  passed  slowly 
away.  This  morning  passed  by, —  the  time 
of  our  stay  in  Brattleboro,  and  we  neither 
saw  nor  heard  anything  of  our  Governor. 
We  suppose  he  could  not  or  would  not  help 
us.  So  as  we  go  down  to  our  trial  we  have 
no  arm  to  lean  upon  among  all  men;  but  why 
dost  thou  complain,  oh,  my  Soul?  Seek  thou 
that  faith  that  will  prove  a  buckler  to  thy 
breast,  and  gain  for  thee  the  protection  of 
an  arm  mightier  than  the  arms  of  all  men. 

2^th:  Camp  Vermont:  Long  Island, 
Boston  Harbour. —  In  the  early  morning 
damp  and  cool  we  marched  down  off  the 


36    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

heights  of  Brattleboro  to  take  train  for  this 
place.  Once  in  the  car  the  dashing  young 
cavalry  officer,  who  had  us  in  charge,  gave 
notice  he  had  placed  men  through  the  cars, 
with  loaded  revolvers,  who  had  orders  to 
shoot  any  person  attempting  to  escape,  or 
jump  from  the  window,  and  that  any  one 
would  be  shot  if  he  even  put  his  head  out  of 
the  window.  Down  the  beautiful  valley  of 
the  Connecticut,  all  through  its  broad  inter- 
vales, heavy  with  its  crops  of  corn  or  tobacco, 
or  shaven  smooth  by  the  summer  harvest; 
over  the  hard  and  stony  counties  of  northern 
Massachusetts,  through  its  suburbs  and  under 
the  shadow  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument  we 
came  into  the  City  of  Boston,  "  the  Hub  of 
the  Universe."  Out  through  street  after 
street  we  were  marched  double  guarded  to 
the  wharves,  where  we  took  a  small  steamer 
for  the  island  some  six  miles  out  in  the  har- 
bour.   A  circumstance  connected  with  this 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  37 

march  is  worth  mentioning  for  its  singular- 
ity: at  the  head  of  this  company,  like  con- 
victs (and  feeling  very  much  like  such), 
through  the  City  of  Boston  walked,  with 
h.t?LVY  hearts  and  down-cast  eyes,  two 
Quakers. 

Here  on  this  dry  and  pleasant  island  in 
the  midst  of  the  beautiful  .Massachusetts 
Bay,  we  have  the  liberty  of  the  camp,  the 
privilege  of  air  and  sunshine  and  hay  beds 
to  sleep  upon.  So  we  went  to  bed  last  night 
with  somewhat  of  gladness  elevating  our  de- 
pressed spirits. 

Here  are  many  troops  gathering  daily 
from  all  the  New  England  States  except  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode  Island.  Their  white 
tents  are  dotting  the  green  slopes  and  hill- 
tops of  the  island  and  spreading  wider  and 
wider.  This  is  the  flow  of  military  tide 
here  just  now.  The  ebb  went  out  to  sea  in 
the  shape  of  a  great  shipload  just  as  we  came 


38    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

in,  and  another  load  will  be  sent  before  many 
days.  All  is  war  here.  We  are  surrounded 
by  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war,  and 
enveloped  in  the  cloud  thereof.  The  cloud 
settles  down  over  the  minds  and  souls  of  all; 
they  cannot  see  beyond,  nor  do  they  try;  but 
with  the  clearer  eye  of  Christian  faith  I  try 
to  look  beyond  all  this  error  unto  Truth  and 
Holiness  immaculate:  and  thanks  to  our 
Father,  I  am  favoured  with  glimpses  that  are 
sweet  consolation  amid  this  darkness. 

This  is  one  gratification:  the  men  with  us 
give  us  their  sympathy.  They  seem  to  look 
upon  us  tenderly  and  pitifully,  and  their  ex- 
pressions of  kind  wishes  are  warm.  Al- 
though we  are  relieved  from  duty  and  from 
drill,  and  may  lie  in  our  tents  during  rain 
and  at  night,  we  have  heard  of  no  complaint. 
This  is  the  more  worthy  of  note  as  there  arc 
so  few  in  our  little  (Vermont)  camp.  Each 
man  comes  on  guard  half  the  days.    It  would 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  39 

probably  be  otherwise  were  their  hearts  in 
the  service;  but  I  have  yet  to  find  the  man  in 
any  of  these  camps  or  at  any  service  who  does 
not  wish  himself  at  home.  Substitutes  say 
if  they  knew  all  they  know  now  before  leaving 
home  they  would  not  have  enlisted;  and  they 
have  been  but  a  week  from  their  homes  and 
have  endured  no  hardships.  Yesterday  L. 
M.  M.  and  I  appeared  before  the  Captain 
commanding  this  camp  with  a  statement  of 
our  cases.  He  listened  to  us  respectfully  and 
promised  to  refer  us  to  the  General  com- 
manding here,  General  Devens;  and  in  the 
meantime  released  us  from  duty.  In  a  short 
time  afterward  he  passed  us  in  our  tent,  ask- 
ing our  names.  We  have  not  heard  from 
him,  but  do  not  drill  or  stand  guard;  so,  we 
suppose,  his  release  was  confirmed.  At  that 
interview  a  young  lieutenant  sneeringly  told 
us  he  thought  we  had  better  throw  away  our 
scruples  and  fight  in  the  service  of  the  coun- 


40    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

try;  and  as  we  told  the  Captain  we  could 
not  accept  pay,  he  laughed  mockingly, 
and  said  he  would  not  stay  here  for  $13.00 
per  month.  He  gets  more  than  a  hundred, 
I  suppose. 

How  beautiful  seems  the  world  on  this 
glorious  morning  here  by  the  seaside !  East- 
ward and  toward  the  sun,  fair  green  isles 
with  outlines  of  pure  beauty  are  scattered 
over  the  blue  bay.  Along  the  far  line  of  the 
mainland  white  hamlets  and  towns  glisten 
in  the  morning  sun;  countless  tiny  waves 
dance  in  the  wind  that  comes  off  shore  and 
sparkle  sunward  like  myriads  of  gems.  Up 
the  fair  vault,  flecked  by  scarcely  a  cloud, 
rolls  the  sun  in  glory.  Though  fair  be  the 
earth,  it  has  come  to  be  tainted  and  marred 
by  him  who  w^as  meant  to  be  its  crowning 
glory.  Behind  me  on  this  island  are  crowded 
vile  and  wicked  men,  the  murmur  of  whose 
ribaldry  riseth  continually  like  the  smoke  and 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  41 

fumes  of  a  lower  world.  Oh!  Father  of 
Mercies,  forgive  the  hard  heartlessness  and 
blindness  and  scarlet  sins  of  my  fellows,  my 
brothers. 

PRISON  EXPERIENCES  FOR  CONSCIENCE'  SAKE 
 OUR  PRISON 

2ist.,  Sth  month,  1863.  In  Guard 
House. —  Yesterday  morning  L.  M.  M.  and 
I  were  called  upon  to  do  fatigue  duty.  The 
day  before  we  were  asked  to  do  some  clean- 
ing about  camp  and  to  bring  water.  We 
wished  to  be  obliging,  to  appear  willing  to 
bear  a  hand  toward  that  which  would  pro- 
mote our  own  and  our  fellows'  health  and 
convenience;  but  as  we  worked  we  did  not 
feel  easy.  Suspecting  we  had  been  assigned 
to  such  work,  the  more  we  discussed  in  our 
minds  the  subject,  the  more  clearly  the  right 
way  seemed  opened  to  us;  and  we  separately 
came  to  the  judgment  that  we  must  not  con- 


42    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

form  to  this  requirement.  So  when  the  ser- 
geant bade  us  "  Police  the  streets,"  we  asked 
him  if  he  had  received  instructions  with  re- 
gard to  us,  and  he  replied  we  had  been  as- 
signed to  "  Fatigue  Duty."  L.  M.  M.  an- 
swered him  that  we  could  not  obey.  He  left 
us  immediately  for  the  Major  (Jarvis  of 
Weathersfield,  Vt.).  He  came  back  and 
ordered  us  to  the  Major's  tent.  The-  latter 
met  us  outside  and  inquired  concerning  the 
complaint  he  had  heard  of  us.  Upon  our 
statement  of  our  position,  he  apparently  un- 
dertook to  argue  our  whimsies,  as  he  prob- 
ably looked  upon  our  principles,  out  of  our 
heads.  We  replied  to  his  points  as  we  had 
ability;  but  he  soon  turned  to  bullying  us 
rather  than  arguing  with  us,  and  would 
hardly  let  us  proceed  with  a  whole  sentence. 
"  I  make  some  pretension  to  religion  myself," 
he  said;  and  quoted  the  Old  Testament  freely 
in  support  of  war.    Our  terms  were,  sub- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  43 

mission  or  the  guard-house.  We  replied  we 
could  not  obey. 

This  island  was  formerly  occupied  by  a 
company,  who  carried  on  the  large  farm  it 
comprises  and  opened  a  great  hotel  as  a  sum- 
mer resort. 

The  subjects  of  all  misdemeanours,  grave 
and  small,  are  here  confined.  Those  who 
have  deserted  or  attempted  it;  those  who 
have  insulted  officers  and  those  guilty  of 
theft,  fighting,  drunkenness,  etc.  In  mosty 
as  in  the  camps,  there  are  traces  yet  of  man- 
hood and  of  the  Divine  Spark,  but  some  are 
abandoned,  dissolute.  There  are  many  here 
among  the  substitutes  who  were  actors  in  the 
late  New  York  riots.  They  show  unmis- 
takably the  characteristics  and  sentiments  of 
those  rioters,  and,  especially,  hatred  to  the 
blacks  drafted  and  about  camp,  and  exhibit 
this  in  foul  and  profane  jeers  heaped  upon 
these  unoffending  men  at  every  opportunity. 


44    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

In  justice  to  the  blacks  I  must  say  they  are 
superior  to  the  whites  in  all  their  behaviour. 

315^.  P.M. —  Several  of  us  were  a  little 
time  ago  called  out  one  by  one  to  answer  in- 
quiries with  regard  to  our  offences.  We  re- 
plied we  could  not  comply  with  military 
requisitions.  P.  D.,  being  last,  was  asked  if 
he  would  die  first,  and  replied  promptly  but 
mildly.  Yes. 

Here  we  are  in  prison  in  our  own  land  for 
no  crimes,  no  offence  to  God  nor  man;  nay, 
more :  we  are  here  for  obeying  the  commands 
of  the  Son  of  God  and  the  influences  of  his 
Holy  Spirit.  I  must  look  for  patience  in  this 
dark  day.  I  am  troubled  too  much  and  ex- 
cited and  perplexed. 

15/.,  ^th  month. —  Oh,  the  horrors  of  the 
past  night  —  I  never  before  experienced  such 
sensations  and  fears;  and  never  did  I  feel  so 
clearly  that  I  had  nothing  but  the  hand  of  our 
Father  to  shield  me  from  evil.    Last  night 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  45 

we  three  lay  down  together  on  the  floor  of  a 
lower  room  of  which  we  had  taken  posses- 
sion. The  others  were  above.  We  had  but 
one  blanket  between  us  and  the  floor,  and  one 
over  us.  The  other  one  we  had  lent  to  a 
wretched  deserter  who  had  skulked  into  our 
room  for  relief,  being  without  anything  of  his 
own.  We  had  during  the  day  gained  the 
respect  of  the  fellows,  and  they  seemed  dis- 
posed to  let  us  occupy  our  room  in  peace.  I 
cannot  say  in  quiet,  for  these  caged  beasts  are 
restless,  and  the  resonant  boards  of  this  old 
building  speak  of  bedlam.  The  thin  board 
partitions,  the  light  door  fastened  only  by  a 
pine  stick  thrust  into  a  wooden  loop  on  the 
casing,  seemed  small  protection  in  case  of 
assault;  but  we  lay  down  to  sleep  in  quiet 
trust.  But  we  had  scarcely  fallen  asleep  be- 
fore we  were  awakened  by  the  demoniac 
bowlings  and  yellings  of  a  man  just  brought 
into  the  next  room,  and  allowed  the  liberty  of 


46    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

the  whole  house.  He  was  drunk,  and  fur- 
ther seemed  to  be  labouring  under  delirium 
tremens.  He  crashed  about  furiously,  and 
all  the  more  after  the  guard  tramped  heavily 
in  and  bound  him  with  handcuffs,  and  chain 
and  ball.  Again  and  again  they  left,  only  to 
return  to  quiet  him  by  threats  or  by  crushing 
him  down  to  the  floor  and  gagging  him.  In 
a  couple  of  hours  he  became  quiet  and  we  got 
considerable  sleep. 

In  the  morning  the  fellow  came  into  our 
room  apologizing  for  the  intrusion.  He  ap- 
peared a  smart,  fine-looking  young  man,  rest- 
less and  uneasy.  P.  D.  has  a  way  of  dispos- 
ing of  intruders  that  is  quite  effectual.  I 
have  not  entirely  disposed  of  some  misgiv- 
ings with  respect  to  the  legitimacy  of  his  use 
of  the  means,  so  he  commenced  reading  aloud 
in  the  Bible.  The  fellow  was  impatient  and 
noisy,  but  he  soon  settled  down  on  the  floor 
beside  him.    As  he  listened  and  talked  with 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  47 

us  the  recollections  of  his  father's  house  and 
his  innocent  childhood  were  awakened.  He 
was  the  child  of  pious  parents,  taught  in  Sab- 
bath School  and  under  pure  home  influences 
till  thirteen.  Then  he  was  drawn  into  bad 
company,  soon  after  leaving  home  for  the 
sea;  and,  since  then,  has  served  in  the  army 
and  navy, —  in  the  army  in  Wilson's  and 
Hawkins's  [brigades].  His  was  the  old 
story  of  the  total  subjection  of  moral  power 
and  thralldom  to  evil  habits  and  associates. 
He  would  get  drunk,  whenever  it  was  in  his 
power.  It  was  wrong;  but  he  could  not  help 
it.  Though  he  was  awakened  and  recol- 
lected his  parents  looking  long  and  in  vain 
for  his  return,  he  soon  returned  to  camp,  to 
his  wallowing  in  the  mire,  and  I  fear  to  his 
path  to  certain  perdition. 

3^.  [9th  month.] — A  Massachusetts 
major,  the  officer  of  the  day,  in  his  inspection 
of  the  guard-house  came  into  our  room  to- 


48    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

day.  We  were  lying  on  the  floor  engaged  in 
reading  and  writing.  He  was  apparently 
surprised  at  this  and  inquired  the  name  of  our 
books;  and  finding  the  Bible  and  Thomas  a 
Kempis's  Imitation  of  Christ,  observed  that 
they  were  good  books.  I  cannot  say  if  he 
knew  we  were  Friends,  but  he  asked  us  why 
we  were  in  here. 

Like  all  officers  he  proceeded  to  reason 
with  us,  and  to  advise  us  to  serve,  presenting 
no  comfort  if  we  still  persisted  in  our  course. 
He  informed  us  of  a  young  Friend,  Edward 
W.  Holway  of  Sandwich,  lllass.,  having  been 
yesterday  under  punishment  in  the  camp  by 
his  orders,  who  was  today  doing  service 
about  camp.  He  said  he  was  not  going  to 
put  his  Quaker  in  the  guard-house,  but  was 
going  to  bring  him  to  work  by  punishment. 
We  were  filled  with  deep  sympathy  for  him 
and  desired  to  cheer  him  by  kind  words  as 
well  as  by  the  knowledge  of  our  similar  situa- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  49 

tion.  We  obtained  permission  of  the  Major 
to  write  to  him  a  letter  open  to  his  inspection. 
"  You  may  be  sure,"  said  E.  W.  H.  to  us  at 
W.,  "  the  Major  did  not  allow  it  to  leave  his 
hands." 

This  forenoon  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Day 
came  in  and  acted  the  same  part,  though  he 
was  not  so  cool,  and  left  expressing  the  hope, 
if  we  would  not  serve  our  country  like  men, 
that  God  would  curse  us.  Oh,  the  trials 
from  these  officers!  One  after  another 
comes  in  to  relieve  himself  upon  us.  Finding 
us  firm  and  not  lacking  in  words,  they  usually 
fly  into  a  passion  and  end  by  bullying  us. 
How  can  we  reason  with  such  men?  They 
are  utterly  unable  to  comprehend  the  pure 
Christianity  and  spirituality  of  our  principles. 
They  have  long  stiffened  their  necks  in  their 
own  strength.  They  have  stopped  their  ears 
to  the  voice  of  the  Spirit,  and  hardened  their 
hearts  to  his  influences.    They  see  no  duty 


50    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

higher  than  that  to  country.  What  shall  we 
receive  at  their  hands? 

This  Major  tells  us  we  will  not  be  tried 
here.  Then  we  are  to  be  sent  into  the  field, 
and  there  who  will  deliver  us  but  God?  Ah, 
I  have  nursed  in  my  heart  a  hope  that  I  may 
be  spared  to  return  home.  Must  I  cast  it 
out  and  have  no  desire,  but  to  do  the  will  of 
my  Master.  It  were  better,  even  so.  O, 
Lord,  Thy  will  be  done.  Grant  I  may  make 
it  my  chief  delight  and  render  true  submission 
thereto. 

Yesterday  a  little  service  was  required  of 
our  dear  L.  M.  M.,  but  he  insisted  he  could 
not  comply.  A  sergeant  and  two  privates 
were  engaged.  They  coaxed  and  threatened 
him  by  turns,  and  with  a  determination  not  to 
be  baffled  took  him  out  to  perform  it. 
Though  guns  were  loaded  he  still  stood  firm 
and  was  soon  brought  back.  We  are  happy 
here  in  guard-house, —  too  happy,  too  much 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  51 

at  ease.  We  should  see  more  of  the  Com- 
forter,—  feel  more  strength, —  if  the  trial 
were  fiercer;  but  this  is  well.  This  is  a  trial 
of  strength  of  patience. 

Gth.  [9th  month.] — Yesterday  we  had 
officers  again  for  visitors.  Major  J.  B. 
Gould,  13th  Massachusetts,  came  in  with  the 
determination  of  persuading  us  to  consent  to 
be  transferred  to  the  hospital  here,  he  being 
the  Provost  Marshal  of  the. island  and  having 
the  power  to  make  the  transfer.  He  is  dif- 
ferent in  being  and  bearing  from  those  who 
have  been  here  before.  His  motives  were 
apparently  those  of  pure  kindness,  and  his  de- 
meanour was  that  of  a  gentleman.  Though 
he  talked  with  us  more  than  an  hour,  he  lost 
no  part  of  his  self-control  or  good  humour. 
So  by  his  eloquence  and  kindness  he  made 
more  impression  upon  us  than  any  before. 
As  Congregationalist  he  well  knew  the  courts 
of  the  temple,  but  the  Holy  of  Holies  he  had 


52    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

never  seen,  and  knew  nothing  of  its  secrets. 
He  understood  expediency;  but  is  not  the  man 
to  "  lay  down  his  life  for  my  sake."  He  is 
sincere  and  seems  to  think  what  Major  Gould 
believes  cannot  be  far  from  right.  After  his 
attempt  we  remained  as  firm  as  ever.  We 
must  expect  all  means  will  be  tried  upon  us, 
and  no  less  persuasion  than  threats.  \ 
At  the  Hospital,  qth.  [9th  month.]  — 
Yesterday  morning  came  to  us  Major  Gould 
again,  informing  us  that  he  had  come  to  take 
us  out  of  that  dirty  place,  as  he  could  not  see 
such  respectable  men  lying  there,  and  was 
going  to  take  us  up  to  the  hospital.  We  as- 
sured him  we  could  not  serve  there,  and  asked 
him  if  he  would  not  bring  us  back  when  we 
had  there  declared  our  purpose.  He  would 
not  reply  directly;  but  brought  us  here  and 
left  us.  When  the  surgeon  knew  our  deter- 
mination, he  was  for  haling  us  back  at  once; 
what  he  wanted,  he  said,  was  willing  men. 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  53 

We  sat  on  the  sward  without  the  hospital 
tents  till  nearly  noon,  for  some  one  to  take  us 
back;  when  we  were  ordered  to  move  into  the 
tents  and  quarters  assigned  us  in  the  mess- 
room.  The  Major  must  have  interposed, 
demonstrating  his  kindness  by  his  resolution 
that  we  should  occupy  and  enjoy  the  pleas- 
anter  quarters  of  the  hospital,  certainly  if 
serving;  but  none  the  less  so  if  we  declined. 
Later  in  the  day  L.  M.  M.  and  P.  D.  were 
sitting  without,  when  he  passed  them  and, 
laughing  heartily,  declared  they  were  the 
strangest  prisoners  of  war  he  ever  saw.  He 
stopped  some  time  to  talk  with  them  and 
when  they  came  in  they  declared  him  a  kind 
and  honest  man. 

If  we  interpret  aright  his  conduct,  this  dan- 
gerous trial  is  over,  and  we  have  escaped  the 
perplexities  that  his  kindness  and  determina- 
tion threw  about  us. 

i3//i. —  Last  night  we  received  a  letter 


54    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

from  Henry  Dickinson,  stating  that  the 
President,  though  sympathizing  with  those 
in  our  situation,  felt  bound  by  the  Conscrip- 
tion Act,  and  felt  liberty,  in  view  of  his  oath 
to  execute  the  laws,  to  do  no  more  than  detail 
us  from  active  service  to  hospital  duty,  or  to 
the  charge  of  the  coloured  refugees.  For 
more  than  a  week  have  we  lain  here,  refusing 
to  engage  in  hospital  service ;  shall  we  retrace 
the  steps  of  the  past  week?  Or  shall  we  go 
South  as  overseers  of  the  blacks  on  the  confis- 
cated estates  of  the  rebels,  to  act  under  mili- 
tary commanders  and  to  report  to  such? 
What  would  become  of  our  testimony  and  our 
determination  to  preserve  ourselves  clear  of 
the  guilt  of  this  war? 

P.S.  We  have  written  back  to  Henry 
Dickinson  that  we  cannot  purchase  life  at  cost 
of  peace  of  soul. 

i^th. —  We  have  been  exceeding  sorrow- 
ful since  receiving  advice  —  as  we  must  call 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  55 

it  —  from  H.  D.  to  enter  the  hospital  service 
or  some  similar  situation.  We  did  not  look 
for  that  from  him.  It  is  not  what  our 
Friends  sent  us  out  for;  nor  is  it  what  we 
came  for.  We  shall  feel  desolate  and  dreary 
in  our  position,  unless  supported  and  cheered 
by  the  words  of  those  who  have  at  heart  our 
best  interests  more  than  regard  for  our  per- 
sonal welfare.  We  walk  as  we  feel  guided 
by  Best  Wisdom.  Oh,  may  we  run  and  not 
err  in  the  high  path  of  Holiness. 

16//2. —  Yesterday  a  son-in-law  of  N.  B.  of 
Lynn  came  to  see  us.  He  was  going  to  get 
passes  for  one  or  two  of  the  Lynn  Friends, 
that  they  might  come  over  to  see  us  today. 
He  informed  us  that  the  sentiment  of  the 
Friends  hereabouts  was  that  we  might  enter 
the  hospital  without  compromising  our  prin- 
ciples; and  he  produced  a  letter  from  W.  W. 
to  S.  B.  to  the  same  effect.  W.  W.  expressed 
his  opinion  that  we  might  do  so  without  doing 


56    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

it  in  lieu  of  other  service.  How  can  we 
evade  a  fact?  Does  not  the  government 
both  demand  and  accept  it  as  in  lieu  of  other 
service  ?  Oh,  the  cruelest  blow  of  all  comes 
from  our  friends. 

i^th. —  Although  this  trial  was  brought 
upon  us  by  our  friends,  their  intentions  were 
well  meant.  Their  regard  for  our  personal 
welfare  and  safety  too  much  absorbs  the  zeal 
they  should  possess  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  principle  of  the  peaceableness  of  our 
Master^s  kingdom.  An  unfaithfulness  to 
this  through  meekness  and  timidity  seems 
manifest, —  too  great  a  desire  to  avoid  suf- 
fering at  some  sacrifice  of  principle,  perhaps, 
—  too  little  of  placing  of  Faith  and  confi- 
dence upon  the  Rock  of  Eternal  Truth. 

Our  friends  at  home,  with  W.  D.  at  their 
head,  support  us;  and  yesterday,  at  the  op- 
portune moment,  just  as  we  were  most  dis- 
tressed by  the  solicitations  of  our  visitors, 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  57 

kind  and  cheering  words  of  Truth  were  sent 
us  through  dear  C.  M.  P.,  whose  love  rushes 
out  to  us  warm  and  living  and  just  from  an 
overflowing  fountain. 

I  must  record  another  work  of  kind  atten- 
tion shown  us  by  Major  Gould.  Before  we 
embarked,  he  came  to  us  for  a  friendly  visit. 
As  we  passed  him  on  our  way  to  the  wharf 
he  bade  us  Farewell  and  expressed  a  hope  we 
should  not  have  so  hard  a-time  as  we  feared. 
And  after  we  were  aboard  the  steamer,  as  the 
result  of  his  interference  on  our  behalf,  we 
must  believe,  we  were  singled  out  from  the 
midst  of  the  prisoners,  among  whom  we  had 
been  placed  previous  to  coming  aboard,  and 
allowed  the  liberty  of  the  vessel.  By  this  are 
we  saved  much  suffering,  as  the  other  prison- 
ers were  kept  under  close  guard  in  a  corner 
on  the  outside  of  the  boat. 

Forest  City  up  the  Potomac,  imd. 
[9th  month.]  —  It  was  near  noon,  yesterday, 


58    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

when  we  turned  in  from  sea  between  Cape 
Charles  and  Henry;  and,  running  thence 
down  across  the  mouth  of  Chesapeake  Bay, 
alongside  Old  Point  Comfort,  dropped 
anchor  off  Fortress  Monroe.  The  scene 
around  us  was  one  of  beauty,  though  many 
of  its  adornments  were  the  results  and  means 
of  wrong.  The  sunshine  was  brighter,  the 
verdure  greener  to  our  eyes  weary  of  the  sea, 
and  the  calm  was  milder  and  more  grateful 
that  we  had  so  long  tossed  in  the  storm. 

The  anchor  was  soon  drawn  up  again  and 
the  Forest  City  steamed  up  the  James  River 
toward  Newport  News,  and  turning  to  the 
left  between  the  low,  pine-grown  banks, 
passed  Norfolk  to  leave  the  New  Hampshire 
detachment  at  Portsmouth. 

Coming  back  to  Fortress  Monroe,  some 
freight  was  landed;  and  in  the  calm  clear 
light  of  the  moon,  we  swung  away  from  shore 
and  dropping  down  the  mouth  of  the  river, 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  59 

rounded  Old  Point,  and,  going  up  the  Chesa- 
peake, entered  the  Potomac  in  the  night-time. 

Off  Shore,  Alexandria.  23^. —  Here 
we  anchored  last  night  after  the  main  detach- 
ment was  landed,  and  the  Vermont  and 
Massachusetts  men  remained  on  board  an- 
other night.  We  hear  we  are  to  go  right  to 
the  field,  where  active  operations  are  going 
on.  This  seems  hard.  We  have  not  till 
now  given  up  the  hope  that  we  were  not  to 
go  out  into  Virginia  with  the  rest  of  the 
men,  but  were  to  be  kept  here  at  Washington. 
Fierce,  indeed,  are  our  trials.  I  am  not  dis- 
couraged entirely;  but  I  am  weak  from  want 
of  food  which  I  can  eat,  and  from  sickness. 
I  do  not  know  how  I  am  going  to  live  in  such 
way,  or  get  to  the  front. 

P.S.  We  have  just  landed;  and  I  had  the 
liberty  to  buy  a  pie  of  a  woman  hawking  such 
things,  that  has  strengthened  me  wonderfully. 

Camp    near    Culpeper.    25//?. —  My 


6o    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

distress  is  too  great  for  words;  but  I  must 
overcome  my  disinclination  to  write,  or  this 
record  will  remain  unfinished.  So,  with  ach- 
ing head  and  heart,  I  proceed. 

Yesterday  morning  we  were  roused  early 
for  breakfast  and  for  preparation  for  start- 
ing. After  marching  out  of  the  barracks,  we 
were  first  taken  to  the  armory,  where  each 
man  received  a  gun  and  its  equipments. and  a 
piece  of  tent.  We  stood  in  line,  waiting  for 
our  turn  with  apprehensions  of  coming 
trouble.  Though  we  had  felt  free  to  keep 
with  those  among  whom  we  had  been  placed, 
we  could  not  consent  to  carry  a  gun,  even 
though  we  did  not  intend  to  use  it;  and,  from 
our  previous  experience,  we  knew  it  would  go 
harder  with  us,  if  we  took  the  first  step  in 
the  wrong  direction,  though  it  might  seem  an 
unimportant  one,  and  an  easy  and  not  very 
wrong  way  to  avoid  difficulty.  So  we  felt 
decided  we  must  decline  receiving  the  guns. 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  6i 

In  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  equipping  a  detach- 
ment of  soldiers,  one  attempting  to  explain 
a  position  and  the  grounds  therefor  so  pe- 
culiar as  ours  to  junior,  petty  officers,  possess- 
ing liberally  the  characteristics  of  these: 
pride,  vanity,  conceit,  and  an  arbitrary  spirit, 
impatience,  profanity,  and  contempt  for  holy 
things,  must  needs  find  the  opportunity  a  very 
unfavourable  one. 

We  succeeded  in  giving  these  young  officers 
a  slight  idea  of  what  we  were;  and  en- 
deavoured to  answer  their  questions  of  why 
we  did  not  pay  our  commutation,  and  avail 
ourselves  of  that  provision  made  expressly 
for  such ;  of  w^hy  we  had  come  as  far  as  that 
place,  etc.  We  realized  then  the  unpleasant 
results  of  that  practice,  that  had  been  em- 
ployed with  us  by  the  successive  officers  into 
whose  hands  we  had  fallen, —  of  shirking  any 
responsibility,  and  of  passing  us  on  to  the 
next  officer  above. 


62    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

A  council  was  soon  holden  to  decide  what 
to  do  with  us.  One  proposed  to  place  us 
under  arrest,  a  sentiment  we  rather  hoped 
might  prevail,  as  it  might  prevent  our  being 
sent  on  to  the  front;  but  another,  in  some 
spite  and  impatience,  insisted,  as  it  was  their 
duty  to  supply  a  gun  to  every  man  and  for- 
ward him,  that  the  guns  should  be  put  upon 
us,  and  we  be  made  to  carry  them.  Ac- 
cordingly the  equipment  was  buckled  about 
us,  and  the  straps  of  the  guns  being  loosened, 
they  were  thrust  over  our  heads  and  hung 
upon  our  shoulders.  In  this  way  we  were 
urged  forward  through  the  streets  of  Alex- 
andria; and,  having  been  put  upon  a  long 
train  of  dirt  cars,  were  started  for  Culpeper. 
We  came  over  a  long  stretch  of  desolated  and 
deserted  country,  through  battlefields  of  pre- 
vious summers,  and  through  many  camps  now 
lively  with  the  work  of  this  present  campaign. 
Seeing,  for  the  first  time,  a  country  made 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  63 

dreary  by  the  war-blight,  a  country  once 
adorned  with  groves  and  green  pastures  and 
meadows  and  fields  of  waving  grain,  and 
happy  with  a  thousand  homes,  now  laid  with 
the  ground,  one  realizes  as  he  can  in  no  other 
way  something  of  the  ruin  that  lies  in  the 
trail  of  a  war.  But  upon  these  fields  of 
Virginia,  once  so  fair,  there  rests  a  two-fold 
blight,  first  that  of  slavery,  now  that  of  war. 
When  one  contrasts  the  face  of  this  country 
with  the  smiling  hillsides  and  vales  of  New 
England,  he  sees  stamped  upon  it  in  charac- 
ters so  marked,  none  but  a  blind  man  can 
fail  to  read,  the  great  irrefutable  arguments 
against  slavery  and  against  war,  too ;  and 
must  be  filled  with  loathing  for  these  twin 
relics  of  barbarism,  so  awful  in  the  potency 
of  their  consequences  that  they  can  change 
even  the  face  of  the  country. 

Through  the  heat  of  this  long  ride,  we  felt 
our  total  lack  of  water  and  the  meagreness 


64    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

of  our  supply  of  food.  Our  thirst  became 
so  oppressive  as  we  were  marched  here  from 
Culpeper,  some  four  miles  with  scarcely  a 
halt  to  rest,  under  our  heavy  loads,  and 
through  the  heat  and  deep  dust  of  the  road, 
that  we  drank  water  and  dipped  in  the  brooks 
we  passed,  though  it  was  discoloured  with 
the  soap  the  soldiers  had  used  in  washing. 
The  guns  interfered  with  our  walking,  and, 
slipping  down,  dragged  with  painful  weight 
upon  our  shoulders.  Poor  P.  D.  fell  out 
from  exhaustion  and  did  not  come  in  till  we 
had  been  some  little  time  at  the  camp.  We 
were  taken  to  the  4th  Vermont  regiment  and 
soon  apportioned  to  companies.  Though  we 
waited  upon  the  officer  commanding  the  com- 
pany in  which  we  were  placed,  and  en- 
deavoured to  explain  our  situation,  we  were 
required  immediately  after  to  be  present  at 
inspection  of  arms.  We  declined,  but  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  force  us  to  obedience. 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  65 

first,  by  the  officers  of  the  company,  then,  by 
those  of  the  regiment;  but,  failing  to  exact 
obedience  of  us,  we  were  ordered  by  the 
colonel  to  be  tied,  and,  if  we  made  outcry,  to 
be  gagged  also,  and  to  be  kept  so  till  he  gave 
orders  for  our  release.  After  two  or  three 
hours  we  were  relieved  and  left  under  guard; 
lying  down  on  the  ground  in  the  open  air, 
and  covering  ourselves  with  our  blankets,  we 
soon  fell  asleep  from  exhaustion,  and  the 
fatigue  of  the  day. 

This  morning  the  officers  told  us  we  must 
yield.  We  must  obey  and  serve.  We  were 
threatened  great  severities  and  even  death. 
We  seem  perfectly  at  the  mercy  of  the  mili- 
tary power,  and,  more,  in  the  hands  of  the 
inferior  officers,  who,  from  their  being  far 
removed  from  Washington,  feel  less  restraint 
from  those  Regulations  of  the  Army,  which 
are  for  the  protection  of  privates  from  per- 
sonal abuse. 


66    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

26th.  [gth  month.]  — Yesterday  my  mind 
was  much  agitated:  doubts  and  fears  and 
forebodings  seized  me.  I  was  alone,  seeking 
a  resting-place  and  finding  none.  It  seemed 
as  if  God  had  forsaken  me  in  this  dark  hour; 
and  the  Tempter  whispered,  that  after  all  I 
might  be  only  the  victim  of  a  delusion.  My 
prayers  for  faith  and  strength  seemed  all  in 
vain. 

But  this  morning  I  enjoy  peace,  and  feel  as 
though  I  could  face  anything.  Though  I  am 
as  a  lamb  in  the  shambles,  yet  do  I  cry,  "  Thy 
will  be  done,"  and  can  indeed  say, — 

Passive  to  His  holy  will 
Trust  I  in  my  Master  still 
Even  though  he  slay  me. 

I  mind  me  of  the  anxiety  of  our  dear 
friends  about  home,  and  of  their  prayers 
for  us. 

Oh,  praise  be  to  the  Lord  for  the  peace  and 
love  and  resignation  that  has  filled  my  soul 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  67 

today!  Oh,  the  passing  beauty  of  holiness  I 
There  is  a  holy  life  that  is  above  fear;  it  is  a 
close  communion  with  Christ.  I  pray  for 
this  continually  but  am  not  free  from  the 
shadow  and  the  tempter.  There  is  ever 
present  with  us  the  thought  that  perhaps  we 
shall  serve  the  Lord  the  most  effectually  by 
our  death,  and  desire,  if  that  be  the  service 
He  requires  of  us,  that  we  may  be  ready  and 
resigned. 

Regimental  Hospital,  4th  Vermont. 
2()th.  [9//1  month.]  —  On  the  evening  of  the 
26th  the  Colonel  came  to  us  apologizing  for 
the  roughness  with  which  he  treated  us  at 
first,  which  was,  as  he  insisted,  through  igno- 
rance of  our  real  character  and  position.  He 
told  us  if  we  persisted  in  our  course,  death 
would  probably  follow;  though  at  another 
time  he  confessed  to  P.  D.  that  this  would 
only  be  the  extreme  sentence  of  court-martial. 

He  urged  us  to  go  into  the  hospital,  stating 


68    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

that  this  course  was  advised  by  Friends 
about  New  York.  We  were  too  well  aware 
of  such  a  fact  to  make  any  denial,  though  it 
was  a  subject  of  surprise  to  us  that  he  should 
be  informed  of  it.  He  pleaded  with  us  long 
and  earnestly,  urging  us  with  many  promises 
of  indulgence  and  favour  and  attentions  we 
found  afterwards  to  be  untrue.  He  gave  us 
till  the  next  morning  to  consider  the  question 
and  report  our  decision.  In  our  discussion 
of  the  subject  among  ourselves,  we  were  very 
much  perplexed.  If  all  his  statements  con- 
cerning the  ground  taken  by  our  Society  were 
true,  we  seemed  to  be  liable,  if  we  persisted  in 
the  course  which  alone  seemed  to  us  to  be  in 
accordance  with  Truth,  to  be  exposed  to  the 
charge  of  over-zeal  and  fanaticism  even 
among  our  own  brethren.  Regarding  the 
work  to  be  done  in  hospital  as  one  of  mercy 
and  benevolence,  we  asked  if  we  had  any  right 
to  refuse  its  performance;  and  questioned 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  69 

whether  we  could  do  more  good  by  en- 
deavouring to  bear  to  the  end  a  clear  testi- 
mony against  war,  than  by  labouring  by  word 
and  deed  among  the  needy  in  the  hospitals 
and  camps.  We  saw  around  us  a  rich  field 
for  usefulness  in  which  there  were  scarce  any 
labourers,  and  toward  whose  work  our  hands 
had  often  started  involuntarily  and  unbidden. 
At  last  we  consented  to  a  trial,  at  least  till  we 
could  make  inquiries  concerning  the  Colonel's 
allegations,  and  ask  the  counsel  of  our 
friends,  reserving  the  privilege  of  returning 
to  our  former  position. 

At  first  a  great  load  seemed  rolled  away 
from  us;  we  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  life 
again.  But  soon  there  prevailed  a  feeling 
of  condemnation,  as  though  we  had  sold 
our  Master.  And  that  first  day  was  one  of 
the  bitterest  I  ever  experienced.  It  was  a 
time  of  stern  conflict  of  soul.  The  voice  that 
seemed  to  say,  "  Follow  me,"  as  I  sought 


70    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

guidance  the  night  before,  kept  pleading  with 
me,  convincing  of  sin,  till  I  knew  of  a  truth 
my  feet  had  strayed  from  His  path.  The 
Scriptures,  which  the  day  before  I  could 
scarcely  open  without  finding  words  of 
strength  and  comfort,  seemed  closed  against 
me,  till  after  a  severe  struggle  alone  in  the 
wood  to  which  I  had  retired,  I  consented  to 
give  up  and  retrace  my  steps  in  faith.  But 
it  was  too  late.  L.  M.  M.  wishing  to  make 
a  fair,  honest  trial,  we  were  brought  here  — 
P.  D.  being  already  here  unwell.  We  feel 
we  are  erring;  but  scarce  anything  is  required 
of  us  and  we  wait  to  hear  from  Friends. 

Of  these  days  of  going  down  into  sin,  I 
wish  to  make  little  mention.  I  would  that  my 
record  of  such  degradation  be  brief.  We 
wish  to  come  to  an  understanding  with  our 
friends  and  the  Society  before  we  move,  but 
it  does  not  seem  that  we  can  repress  the  up- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  71 

heavings  of  Truth  in  our  hearts.  We  are 
bruised  by  sin. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  record  we  have  just 
waited  upon  the  Colonel  with  an  explanation 
of  our  distress  of  mind,  requesting  him  to 
proceed  with  court-martial.  We  were  kindly 
and  tenderly  received.  "  If  you  want  a  trial 
I  can  give  it  to  you,"  he  answered.  The  bri- 
gade has  just  marched  out  to  join  with  the 
division  for  inspection.  After  that  we  are 
to  have  attention  to  our  case. 

p.  M.  There  is  particular  cause  for  con- 
gratulation in  the  consideration  that  we  took 
this  step  this  morning,  when  now  we  receive 
a  letter  from  H.  D.  charging  us  to  faithful- 
ness. 

When  lately  I  have  seen  dear  L.  M.  M.  in 
the  thoroughness  and  patience  of  his  trial  to 
perform  service  in  hospital,  his  uneasiness 
and  the  intensity  of  his  struggle  as  mani- 


72    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

fested  by  his  silence  and  disposition  to  avoid 
the  company  of  his  friends,  and  seen  him  fail 
and  declare  to  us,  "  I  cannot  stay  here,"  I 
have  received  a  new  proof,  and  to  me  a 
strong  one,  because  it  is  from  the  experimen- 
tal knowledge  of  an  honest  man,  that  no 
Friend,  who  is  really  such,  desiring  to  keep 
himself  clear  of  complicity  with  this  system 
of  war  and  to  bear  a  perfect  testimony 
against  it,  can  lawfully  perform  service  in  the 
hospitals  of  the  Army  in  lieu  of  bearing  arms. 

loth  mo.,  3^. —  Today  dawned  fair  and 
our  Camp  is  dry  again.  I  was  asked  to  clean 
the  gun  I  brought,  and  declining,  was  tied 
some  two  hours  upon  the  ground. 

6th.  At  Washington. —  At  first,  after 
being  informed  of  our  declining  to  serve  in 
his  hospital.  Colonel  Foster  did  not  appear 
altered  in  his  kind  regard  for  us.  But  his 
spleen  soon  became  evident.  At  the  time  we 
asked  for  a  trial  by  court-martial,  and  it  was 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  73 

his  duty  to  place  us  under  arrest  and  proceed 
with  the  preferring  of  his  charges  against  us. 
For  a  while  he  seemed  to  hesitate  and  consult 
his  inferior  officers,  and  among  them  his 
Chaplain.  The  result  of  the  conference  was 
our  being  ordered  into  our  companies,  that, 
separated,  and  with  the  force  of  the  officers 
of  a  company  bearing  upon  us,  we  might  the 
more  likely  be  subdued.  Yet  the  Colonel 
assured  L.  M.  M.,  interceding  in  my  behalf, 
when  the  lieutenant  commanding  my  company 
threatened  force  upon  me,  that  he  should 
not  allow  any  personal  injury.  When  we 
marched  next  day  I  was  compelled  to  bear  a 
gun  and  equipments.  My  associates  were 
more  fortunate,  for,  being  asked  if  they 
would  carry  their  guns,  declined  and  saw  no 
more  trouble  from  them.  The  captain  of 
the  company  in  which  P.  D.  was  placed  told 
him  he  did  not  believe  he  was  ugly  about  it, 
and  that  he  could  only  put  him  under  arrest 


74    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

and  prefer  charges  against  him.  He  accord- 
ingly was  taken  under  guard,  where  he  lay 
till  we  left  for  here. 

The  next  morning  the  men  were  busy  in 
burnishing  their  arms.  When  I  looked  to- 
ward the  one  I  had  borne,  yellow  with  rust, 
I  trembled  in  the  weakness  of  the  flesh  at  the 
trial  I  felt  impending  over  me.  Before  the 
Colonel  was  up  I  knocked  at  his  tent,  but  was 
told  he  was  asleep,  though,  through  the  open- 
ing, I  saw  him  lying  gazing  at  me.  Al- 
though I  felt  I  should  gain  no  relief  from 
him,  I  applied  again  soon  after.  He  ad- 
mitted me  and,  lying  on  his  bed,  inquired  with 
cold  heartlessness  what  I  wanted.  I  stated 
to  him,  that  I  could  never  consent  to  serve, 
and,  being  under  the  war-power,  was  resigned 
to  suffer  instead  all  the  just  penalties  of  the 
law.  I  begged  of  him  release  from  the  at- 
tempts by  violence  to  compel  my  obedience 
and  service,  and  a  trial,  though  likely  to  be 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  75 

made  by  those  having  no  sympathy  with  me, 
yet  probably  in  a  manner  comformable  to 
law. 

He  replied  that  he  had  shown  us  all  the 
favour  he  should;  that  he  had,  now,  turned  us 
over  to  the  military  power  and  was  going  to 
let  that  take  its  course;  that  is,  henceforth  we 
were  to  be  at  the  mercy  of  the  inferior  offi- 
cers, without  appeal  to  law,  justice,  or  mercy. 
He  said  he  had  placed  us  in  a  pleasant  posi- 
tion, against  which  we  could  have  no  reason- 
able objection,  and  that  we  had  failed  to  per- 
form our  agreement.  He  wished  to  deny 
that  our  consent  was  only  temporary  and  con- 
ditional. He  declared,  furthermore,  his  be- 
lief, that  a  man  who  would  not  fight  for  his 
country  did  not  deserve  to  live.  I  was  glad 
to  withdraw  from  his  presence  as  soon  as  I 
could. 

I  went  back  to  my  tent  and  lay  down  for  a 
season  of  retirement,  endeavouring  to  gain 


76    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

resignation  to  any  event.  I  dreaded  torture 
and  desired  strength  of  flesh  and  spirit.  My 
trial  soon  came.  The  lieutenant  called  me 
out,  and  pointing  to  the  gun  that  lay  near  by, 
asked  if  I  was  going  to  clean  it.  I  replied  to 
him,  that  I  could  not  comply  with  military 
requisitions,  and  felt  resigned  to  the  conse- 
quences. "  I  do  not  ask  about  your  feelings; 
I  want  to  know  if  you  are  going  to  clean  that 
gun?"  "I  cannot  do  it,"  was  my  answer. 
He  went  away,  saying,  "  Very  well,"  and  I 
crawled  into  the  tent  again.  Two  sergeants 
soon  called  for  me,  and  taking  me  a  little 
aside,  bid  me  lie  down  on  my  back,  and 
stretching  my  limbs  apart  tied  cords  to  my 
wrists  and  ankles  and  these  to  four  stakes 
driven  in  the  ground  somewhat  in  the  form  of 
an  X. 

I  was  very  quiet  in  my  mind  as  I  lay  there 
on  the  ground  [soaked]  with  the  rain  of  the 
previous  day,  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun, 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  77 

and  suffering  keenly  from  the  cords  binding 
my  wrists  and  straining  my  muscles.  And, 
if  I  dared  the  presumption,  I  should  say  that 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  heavenly  pity.  I  wept, 
not  so  much  from  my  own  suffering  as  from 
sorrow  that  such  things  should  be  in  our  own 
country,  where  Justice  and  Freedom  and 
Liberty  of  Conscience  have  been  the  annual 
boast  of  Fourth-of-July  orators  so  many 
years.  It  seemed  that  our  forefathers  in  the 
faith  had  wrought  and  suffered  in  vain,  when 
the  privileges  they  so  dearly  bought  were  so 
soon  set  aside.  And  I  was  sad,  that  one  en- 
deavouring to  follow  our  dear  Master  should 
be  so  generally  regarded  as  a  despicable  and 
stubborn  culprit. 

After  something  like  an  hour  had  passed, 
the  lieutenant  came  with  his  orderly  to  ask 
me  if  I  was  ready  to  clean  the  gun.  I  replied 
to  the  orderly  asking  the  question,  that  it 
could  but  give  me  pain  to  be  asked  or  required 


78    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

to  do  anything  I  believed  wrong.  He  re- 
peated it  to  the  lieutenant  just  behind  him, 
who  advanced  and  addressed  me.  I  was 
favoured  to  improve  the  opportunity  to  say  to 
him  a  few  things  I  wished.  He  said  little; 
and,  when  I  had  finished,  he  withdrew  with 
the  others  who  had  gathered  around.  About 
the  end  of  another  hour  his  orderly  came  and 
released  me. 

I  arose  and  sat  on  the  ground.  I  did  not 
rise  to  go  away.  I  had  not  where  to  go, 
nothing  to  do.  As  I  sat  there  my  heart 
swelled  with  joy  from  above.  The  consola- 
tion and  sweet  fruit  of  tribulation  patiently 
endured.  But  I  also  grieved,  that  the  world 
was  so  far  gone  astray,  so  cruel  and  blind. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  gospel  of  Christ  had  never 
been  preached  upon  earth,  and  the  beautiful 
example  of  his  life  had  been  utterly  lost 
sight  of. 

Some  of  the  men  came  about  me,  advising 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  79 

me  to  yield,  and  among  them  one  of  those 
who  had  tied  me  down,  telling  me  what  I  had 
already  suffered  was  nothing  to  what  I  must 
yet  suffer  unless  I  yielded;  that  human  flesh 
could  not  endure  what  they  would  put  upon 
me.  I  wondered  if  it  could  be  that  they  could 
force  me  to  obedience  by  torture,  and  exam- 
ined myself  closely  to  see  if  they  had  ad- 
vanced as  yet  one  step  toward  the  accomplish- 
ment of  their  purposes.  Though  weaker  in 
body,  I  believed  I  found  myself,  through  di- 
vine strength,  as  firm  in  my  resolution  to 
maintain  my  allegiance  to  my  Master. 

The  relaxation  of  my  nerves  and  muscles 
after  having  been  so  tensely  strained  left  me 
that  afternoon  so  weak  that  I  could  hardly 
walk  or  perform  any  mental  exertion. 

I  had  not  yet  eaten  the  mean  and  scanty 
breakfast  I  had  prepared,  when  I  was  or- 
dered to  pack  up  my  things  and  report  my- 
self at  the  lieutenant's  tent.    I  was  accus- 


8o    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

tomed  to  such  orders  and  complied,  little 
moved. 

The  lieutenant  received  me  politely  with, 
"  Good-morning,  Mr.  Pringle,"  and  desiring 
me  to  be  seated,  proceeded  with  the  writing 
with  which  he  was  engaged.  I  sat  down  in 
some  wonderment  and  sought  to  be  quiet  and 
prepared  for  any  event. 

*'You  are  ordered  to  report  to  Washing- 
ton," said  he ;  I  do  not  know  what  it  is  for." 
I  assured  him  that  neither  did  I  know.  We 
were  gathered  before  the  Major's  tent  for 
preparation  for  departure.  The  regimental 
officers  were  there  manifesting  surprise  and 
chagrin;  for  they  could  not  but  show  both  as 
they  looked  upon  us,  whom  the  day  before 
they  were  threatening  to  crush  into  submis- 
sion, and  attempting  also  to  execute  their 
threats  that  morning,  standing  out  of  their 
power  and  under  orders  from  one  superior  to 
their  Major  Commanding  E.  M.    As  the 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  8i 

bird  uncaged,  so  were  our  hearts  that  morn- 
ing. Short  and  uncertain  at  first  were  the 
flights  of  Hope.  As  the  slave  many  times 
before  us,  leaving  his  yoke  behind  him,  turned 
from  the  plantations  of  Virginia  and  set  his 
face  toward  the  far  North,  so  we  from  out  a 
grasp  as  close  and  as  abundant  in  suffering 
and  severity,  and  from  without  the  Hne  of 
bayonets  that  had  so  many  weeks  surrounded 
us,  turned  our  backs  upon  the  camp  of  the  4th 
Vermont  and  took  our  way  over  the  turnpike 
that  ran  through  the  tented  fields  of  Cul- 
peper. 

At  the  War  Office  we  were  soon  admitted 
to  an  audience  with  the  Adjutant  General, 
Colonel  Townsend,  whom  we  found  to  be  a 
very  fine  man,  mild  and  kind.  He  referred 
our  cases  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Stanton, 
by  whom  we  were  ordered  to  report  for  serv- 
ice to  Surgeon  General  Hammond.  Here 
we  met  Isaac  Newton,  Commissioner  of  Ag- 


82    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

riculture,  waiting  for  our  arrival,  and  James 
Austin  of  Nantucket,  expecting  his  son, 
Charles  L.  Austin,  and  Edward  W.  Holway 
of  Sandwich,  Mass.,  conscripted  Friends  like 
ourselves,  and  ordered  here  from  the  22nd 
Massachusetts. 

We  understand  it  is  through  the  influence 
of  Isaac  Newton  that  Friends  have  been  able 
to  approach  the  heads  of  Government  in  our 
behalf  and  to  prevail  with  them  to  so  great 
an  extent.  He  explained  to  us  the  circum- 
stance in  which  we  are  placed.  That  the 
Secretary  of  War  and  President  sympathized 
with  Friends  in  their  present  suffering,  and 
would  grant  them  full  release,  but  that  they 
felt  themselves  bound  by  their  oaths  that  they 
would  execute  the  laws,  to  carry  out  to  its 
full  extent  the  Conscription  Act.  That  there 
appeared  but  one  door  of  relief  open, —  that 
was  to  parole  us  and  allow  us  to  go  home,  but 
subject  to  their  call  again  ostensibly,  though 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  83 

this  they  neither  wished  nor  proposed  to  do. 
That  the  fact  of  Friends  in  the  Army  and  re- 
fusing service  had  attracted  public  attention 
so  that  it  was  not  expedient  to  parole  us  at 
present.  That,  therefore,  we  were  to  be  sent 
to  one  of  the  hospitals  for  a  short  time,  where 
it  was  hoped  and  expressly  requested  that  we 
would  consent  to  remain  quiet  and  acquiesce, 
if  possible,  in  whatever  might  be  required  of 
us.  That  our  work  there  would  be  quite  free 
from  objection,  being  for  the  direct  relief 
of  the  sick;  and  that  there  we  would  release 
none  for  active  service  in  the  field,  as  the 
nurses  were  hired  civilians. 

These  requirements  being  so  much  less  ob- 
jectionable than  we  had  feared,  we  felt  relief, 
and  consented  to  them.  I.  N.  went  with  us 
himself  to  the  Surgeon  General's  office,  where 
he  procured  peculiar  favours  for  us:  that  we 
should  be  sent  to  a  hospital  in  the  city,  where 
he  could  see  us  often;  and  that  orders  should 


84    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

be  given  that  nothing  should  interfere  with 
our  comfort,  or  our  enjoyment  of  our  con- 
sciences. 

Thence  we  were  sent  to  Medical  Purveyor 
Abbot,  who  assigned  us  to  the  best  hospital 
in  the  city,  the  Douglas  Hospital. 

The  next  day  after  our  coming  here  Isaac 
Newton  and  James  Austin  came  to  add  to  our 
number  E.  W.  H.  and  C.  L.  A.,  so  now  there 
are  five  of  us  instead  of  three.  We  are 
pleasantly  situated  in  a  room  by  ourselves  in 
the  upper  or  fourth  story,  and  are  enjoying 
our  advantages  of  good  quarters  and  toler- 
able food  as  no  one  can  except  he  has  been 
deprived  of  them. 

\^ioth  month]  ^th. —  Today  we  have  a 
pass  to  go  out  to  see  the  city. 

()th. —  We  all  went,  thinking  to  do  the 
whole  city  in  a  day,  but  before  the  time  of 
our  passes  expired,  we  were  glad  to  drag  our- 
selves back  to  the  rest  and  quiet  of  D.  H. 


The  Record  of  d  Quaker  Conscience  85 

During  the  day  we  called  upon  our  friend 
I.  N.  in  the  Patent  Office.  When  he  came  to 
see  us  on  the  7th,  he  stated  he  had  called  upon 
the  President  that  afternoon  to  request  him 
to  release  us  and  let  us  go  home  to  our 
friends.  The  President  promised  to  con- 
sider it  over-night.  Accordingly  yesterday 
morning,  as  I.  N.  told  us,  he  waited  upon  him 
again.  He  found  there  a  woman  in  the 
greatest  distress.  Her  son,  only  a  boy  of 
fifteen  years  and  four  months,  having  been 
enticed  into  the  Army,  had  deserted  and  been 
sentenced  to  be  shot  the  next  day.  As  the 
clerks  were  telling  her,  the  President  was  in 
the  War  Office  and  could  not  be  seen,  nor  did 
they  think  he  could  attend  to  her  case  that 
day.  I.  N.  found  her  almost  wild  with  grief. 
"  Do  not  despair,  my  good  woman,"  said  he, 
"  I  guess  the  President  can  be  seen  after  a 
bit."  He  soon  presented  her  case  to  the 
President,  who  exclaimed  at  once,  "  That 


86    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

must  not  be,  I  must  look  into  that  case,  before 
they  shoot  that  boy";  and  telegraphed  at 
once  to  have  the  order  suspended. 

I.  N.  judged  it  was  not  a  fit  time  to  urge 
our  case.  We  feel  we  can  afford  to  wait, 
that  a  life  may  be  saved.  But  we  long  for 
release.  We  do  not  feel  easy  to  remain 
here. 

wth. —  Today  we  attended  meeting  held 
in  the  house  of  a  Friend,  Asa  Arnold,  living 
near  here.  There  were  but  four  persons  be- 
side ourselves.  E.  W.  H.  and  C.  L.  A. 
showed  their  copy  of  the  charges  about  to 
have  been  preferred  against  them  in  court- 
martial  before  they  left  their  regiment,  to  a 
lawyer  who  attended  the  meeting.  He 
laughed  at  the  Specification  of  Mutiny,  de- 
claring such  a  charge  could  not  have  been 
lawfully  sustained  against  them. 

The  experiences  of  our  new  friends  were 
similar  to  ours,  except  they  fell  among  offi- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  87 

cers  who  usually  showed  them  favour  and 
rejoiced  with  them  in  their  release. 

i2,th, —  L.  M.  M.  had  quite  an  adventure 
yesterday.  He  being  fireman  with  another 
was  in  the  furnace  room  among  three  or  four 
others,  when  the  officer  of  the  day,  one  of 
the  surgeons,  passed  around  on  inspection. 
"  Stand  up,"  he  ordered  them,  wishing  to  be 
saluted.  The  others  arose;  but  by  no  means 
L.  The  order  was  repeated  for  his  benefit, 
but  he  sat  with  his  cap  on,  telling  the  surgeon 
he  had  supposed  he  was  excused  from  such 
things  as  he  was  one  of  the  Friends. 
Thereat  the  officer  flew  at  him,  exclaiming, 
he  would  take  the  Quaker  out  of  him.  He 
snatched  off  his  cap  and  seizing  him  by  the 
collar  tried  to  raise  him  to  his  feet;  but  find- 
ing his  strength  insufficient  and  that  L.  was 
not  to  be  frightened,  he  changed  his  purpose 
in  his  wrath  and  calling  for  the  corporal  of 
the  guard  had  him  taken  to  the  guard-house. 


88    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

This  was  about  eleven  A.  m.  and  he  lay  there 
till  about  six  P.  M.,  when  the  surgeon  in 
charge,  arriving  home  and  hearing  of  it, 
ordered  the  officer  of  the  day  to  go  and  take 
him  out,  telling  him  never  to  put  another  man 
into  the  guard-house  while  he  was  in  charge 
here  without  consulting  him.  The  manner 
of  his  release  was  very  satisfactory  to  us,  and 
we  waited  for  this  rather  than  effect  it  by  our 
own  efforts.  We  are  all  getting  uneasy 
about  remaining  here,  and  if  our  release  do 
not  come  soon,  we  feel  we  must  intercede 
with  the  authorities,  even  if  the  alternative 
be  imprisonment. 

The  privations  I  have  endured  since  leav- 
ing home,  the  great  tax  upon  my  nervous 
strength,  and  my  mind  as  well,  since  I  have 
had  charge  of  our  extensive  correspondence, 
are  beginning  to  tell  upon  my  health  and  I 
long  for  rest. 

20th.    We  begin  to  feel  we  shall  have  to 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  89 

decline  service  as  heretofore,  unless  our  posi- 
tion is  changed.  I  shall  not  say  but  we  sub- 
mit too  much  in  not  declining  at  once,  but  it 
has  seemed  most  prudent  at  least  to  make  suit 
with  Government  rather  than  provoke  the 
hostility  of  their  subalterns.  We  were  or- 
dered here  with  little  understanding  of  the 
true  state  of  things  as  they  really  exist  here ; 
and  were  advised  by  Friends  to  come  and 
make  no  objections,  being  assured  it  was  but 
for  a  very  brief  time  and  only  a  matter  of 
form.  It  might  not  have  been  wrong;  but 
as  we  find  we  do  too  much  fill  the  places  of 
soldiers  (L.  M.  M.'s  fellow  fireman  has  just 
left  for  the  field,  and  I  am  to  take  his  place, 
for  instance),  and  are  clearly  doing  military 
service,  we  are  continually  oppressed  by  a 
sense  of  guilt,  that  makes  our  struggles 
earnest. 

2ist. —  I.  N.  has  not  called  yet;  our  situa- 
tion is  becoming  almost  intolerable.    I  query 


90    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

if  patience  is  justified  under  the  circumstances. 
My  distress  of  mind  may  be  enhanced  by  my 
feeble  condition  of  health,  for  today  I  am 
confined  to  my  bed,  almost  too  weak  to  get 
downstairs.  This  is  owing  to  exposure  after 
being  heated  over  the  furnaces. 

26th. —  Though  a  week  has  gone  by,  and 
my  cold  has  left  me,  I  find  I  am  no  better,  and 
that  I  am  reduced  very  low  in  strength  and 
flesh  by  the  sickness  and  pain  I  am  experienc- 
ing. Yet  I  still  persist  in  going  below  once  a 
day.  The  food  I  am  able  to  get  is  not  such 
as  is  proper. 

iith  mo.,  ^th. —  I  spend  most  of  my  time 
on  my  bed,  much  of  it  alone.  And  very  pre- 
cious to  me  is  the  nearness  unto  the  Master 
I  am  favoured  to  attain  to.  Notwithstanding 
my  situation  and  state,  I  am  happy  in  the 
enjoyment  of  His  consolations.  Lately  my 
confidence  has  been  strong,  and  I  think  I  be- 
gin to  feel  that  our  patience  is  sobn  to  be  re- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  91 

warded  with  relief;  insomuch  that  a  little 
while  ago,  when  dear  P.  D.  was  almost  over- 
come with  sorrow,  I  felt  bold  to  comfort  him 
with  the  assurance  of  my  belief,  that  it  would 
not  be  long  so.  My  mind  is  too  weak  to  al- 
low of  my  reading  much;  and,  though  I  enjoy 
the  company  of  my  companions  a  part  of  the 
time,  especially  in  the  evening,  I  am  much 
alone;  which  affords  me  abundant  time  for 
meditation  and  waiting  upon  God.  The 
fruits  of  this  are  sweet,  and  a  recompense  for 
affliction. 

Gth. —  Last  evening  E.  W.  H.  saw  I.  N. 
particularly  on  my  behalf,  I  suppose.  He 
left  at  once  for  the  President.  This  morn- 
ing he  called  to  inform  us  of  his  interview  at 
the  White  House.  The  President  was  moved 
to  sympathy  in  my  behalf,  when  I.  N.  gave 
him  a  letter  from  one  of  our  Friends  in  New 
York.  After  its  perusal  he  exclaimed  to  our 
friend,     I  want  you  to  go  and  tell  Stanton 


92    The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience 

that  it  is  my  wish  all  those  young  men  be  sent 
home  at  once."  He  was  on  his  way  to  the 
Secretary  this  morning  as  he  called. 

Later.  I.  N.  has  just  called  again  inform- 
ing us  in  joy  that  we  are  free.  At  the  War 
Office  he  was  urging  the  Secretary  to  consent 
to  our  paroles,  when  the  President  entered. 

It  is  my  urgent  wish,"  said  he.  The  Secre- 
tary yielded;  the  order  was  given,  .and  we 
were  released.  What  we  had  waited  for  so 
many  weeks  was  accomplished  in  a  few  mo- 
ments by  a  Providential  ordering  of  circum- 
stances. 

"Ith. —  I.  N.  came  again  last  evening  bring- 
ing our  paroles.  The  preliminary  arrange- 
ments are  being  made,  and  we  arc  to  start 
this  afternoon  for  New  York. 

Note.  Rising  from  my  sick-bed  to  under- 
take this  journey,  which  lasted  through  the 
night,  its  fatigues  overcame  me,  and  upon  my 
arrival  in  New  York  I  was  seized  with  de- 


The  Record  of  a  Quaker  Conscience  93 

lirium  from  which  I  only  recovered  after 
many  weeks,  through  the  mercy  and  favour 
of  Him,  who  in  all  this  trial  had  been  our 
guide  and  strength  and  comfort. 


THE  END 


PBINTBD  IN  THB  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMEEICA 


'X'HE  following  pages  contain  advertisements  of  a 
few  of  the  Macmillan  books  on  kindred  subjects 


The  Heart  of  the  Puritan 


By  ELIZABETH  DEERING  HANSCOM 

$1.50 

The  purpose  of  this  volume  is  stated  by  the  editor  in 
these  words :  "  I  determined  to  bring  together  in  one 
place  in  a  convenient  compendium,  as  it  were,  some 
gleanings  from  many  and  dusty  tomes,  some  fragments 
of  reality,  in  the  hope  that  from  them  might  radiate  for 
others,  as  for  me,  shafts  of  light  to  penetrate  the  past." 
The  result  is  unique  in  the  revelation  afforded  in  the 
Puritans'  own  words  of  their  daily  walk  and  conversa- 
tion and  of  that  inner  temper  which  governed  their  pub- 
lic acts.  The  range  is  from  orders  for  clothes  and 
directions  for  an  Atlantic  voyage  to  the  soul  searchings 
of  Cotton  Mather  and  the  spiritual  ecstasies  of  Mrs. 
Jonathan  Edwards. 

The  idea  is  a  happy  one,  and  Miss  Hanscom  carries 
it  through  with  great  tact  and  deftness. 


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The  Tree  of  Heaven 


By  may  SINCLAIR 


Cloth,  $i.6o 


A  singularly  penetrating  story  of  modem  life,  written 
in  the  author's  very  best  manner.  The  scheme,  the 
root  motive  of  the  book,  may  be  said  to  be  a  vindica- 
tion of  the  present  generation  —  the  generation  that  was 
condemned  as  neurotic  and  decadent  by  common  con- 
sent a  little  more  than  three  years  ago,  but  is  now  en- 
during the  ordeal  of  the  war  with  great  singleness  of 
heart.  This  theme,  in  Miss  Sinclair's  hands,  assumes 
big  proportions  and  gives  her  at  the  same  time  ample 
opportunity  for  character  analysis,  in  which  art  she  is 
equalled  by  few  contemporary  writers. 


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Fairhope :  The  Annals  of  a 
Country  Church 


By  EDGAR  DEWITT  JONES 

Cloth,  i2mo.,  $1.25 

Fairhope  meeting-house  is  in  the  northermost  country 
of  Kentucky,  in  the  midst  of  a  populous  farming  com- 
munity. In  this  book  Mr.  Jones,  a  life-long  member 
of  the  community,  tells  the  story  of  Fairhope  meeting- 
house. The  book  is  a  remarkably  sympathetic  and  ap- 
pealing account  of  a  phase  of  American  rural  life  at  a 
time  when  religion  was  always  the  uppermost  topic  in 
people's  minds. 

"  Simple  narratives  of  our  people,  our  preachers,  and 
the  lights  and  shadows  of  our  rural  religious  life" — is 
the  author's  modest  description  of  his  work.  But  this 
gives  no  hint  of  the  book's  peculiar  charm.  Those  who 
love  birds  and  stretches  of  green  meadow,  glimpses  of 
lordly  and  high  hills,  the  soil  and  the  sincere  life  lived 
on  it,  will  find  here  a  genuine  delight. 

Above  all  is  the  interest  in  the  preachers  them- 
selves. "  There  were  giants  in  those  days,  and  for  the 
most  part  our  ministers  were  good  and  noble  men.  Of 
their  goodness  and  sincerity  these  annals  bear  witness !  " 


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Christine 


By  ALICE  CHOLMONDELEY 

Cloth,  i2mo.,  $1.25 

"  A  book  which  is  true  in  essentials  —  so  real  that  one  is 
tempted  to  doubt  whether  it  is  fiction  at  all  —  doubly  welcome 
and  doubly  important.  ...  It  would  be  difficult  indeed  to  find 
a  book  in  which  the  state  of  mind  of  the  German  people  is  pic- 
tured so  cleverly,  with  so  much  understanding  and  convincing 
detail.  .  .  .  Intelligent,  generous,  sweet-natured,  broadminded, 
quick  to  see  and  to  appreciate  all  that  is  beautiful  either  in  na- 
ture or  in  art,  rejoicing  humbly  over  her  own  great  gift,  en- 
dowed with  a  keen  sense  of  humour,  Christine's  is  a  thoroughly 
wholesome  and  lovable  character.  But  charming  as  Christine's 
personality  and  her  literary  style  both  are,  the  ma'in  value  of  the 
book  lies  in  its  admirably  lucid  analysis  of  the  German  mind." 
—  New  York  Times. 

"  Absolutely  different  from  preceding  books  of  the  war.  Its 
very  freedom  and  girlishness  of  expression,  its  very  sim- 
plicity and  open-heartedness,  prove  the  truth  of  its  pictures." — 
New  York  World. 

"  A  luminous  story  of  a  sensitive  and  generous  nature,  the 
spontaneous  expression  of  one  spirited,  affectionate,  ardently 
ambitious,  and  blessed  with  a  sense  of  humour." —  Boston 
Herald. 

"  The  next  time  some  sentimental  old  lady  of  either  sex,  who 
'  can't  see  why  we  have  to  send  our  boys  abroad,'  comes  into 
your  vision,  and  you  know  they  are  too  unintelligent  (they 
usually  are)  to  understand  a  serious  essay,  try  to  trap  them 
into  reading  *  Christine.'  If  you  succeed  we  know  it  will  do 
them  good." —  Town  and  Country. 


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DATE  DUE 

MAY  1  1  71 

G A YLORD 

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